Recent media revelations over the German intelligence agency's complicity in US National Security Agency (NSA) spying operations was the subject of an MEP plenary discussion earlier this afternoon.

Condemning these operations, GUE/NGL MEP Connie Ernst commented: “What we've always suspected has now been revealed. All intelligence services, even the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), are getting involved with the NSA. This runs counter to all law. Governments are all involved and are turning a blind eye to spying operations on citizens and companies. This is industrial espionage, which is banned by national and European law.”

She added: “Selectors (telephone number identities, email and IP addresses) and other information are being made available. This is the reality that we have to talk about. It's not an isolated case. It's not the NSA alone. It's a whole system of surveillance. Intelligence services are doing what they like and we must put a stop to it.”